I have had single-sided deafness since birth. I’m finding I’m not getting the quality I was hoping for with sound, but my employer is now placing me in the call centre at work. I find it difficult hearing people on the phone just with my left ear (about 80%) so have been trialling a Nokia neckloop but still not getting the best of the hearing to perform my work.

Any suggestions what I can trial? //Jodie

Answer: Dear Jodie,

Sorry to hear that you don’t find the sound quality satisfactory in your sound processor. One suggestion would be to use the Baha audio adapter to connect the sound processor directly to your phone; this will provide you with a direct connection to the phone and should provide good sound quality. The input from the phone will then be mixed with the input from the sound processor microphones, meaning that you will still be able to hear and discuss with your colleagues.

Your audiologist can also create a specific programme where the sound processor microphones are muted to allow you to focus entirely on the input from the phone. The solution requires that you can connect to the phone with a 3.5mm plug, just like to a stereo or smartphone.

Regarding the future we can assure you that we are working hard to extend the wireless benefits of the Baha 5 Sound Processor to more powerful sound processors, however, we cannot give any indication of availability at this point in time.

Last week it was announced that Cochlear Limited, global leader in implantable hearing solutions and GN ReSound, leader in Smart Hearing aids, will collaborate to develop the world’s smartest bimodal hearing solutions! The Smart Hearing Alliance will improve the hearing outcomes for more people of all ages with moderate to profound hearing loss.

GN ReSound CEO Anders Hedegaard says:

“GN ReSound is committed to advancing what is possible for people with hearing loss. This collaborative offering will help us change the lives of so many more people.”

Cochlear and GN ReSound have had a successful history of collaborating on technology and product development, resulting in the implantable hearing industry’s first bimodal solution using True Wireless. With GN ReSound’s leading 2.4 GHz wireless technology, recipients of Nucleus 6 and Baha 5 implants can stream sound directly to their ears completely without wires or bulky neck-worn components!

“This is a big step forward for our customers and professionals,” says Cochlear CEO Chris Smith. “The majority of cochlear implant recipients are bimodal users, so simplifying the management and improving the performance of their hearing solutions will be a huge benefit.”

Dana Suskind is a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago, whose speciality is cochlear implants that allow people who are born deaf to hear. She is also founder and director of the Thirty Million Words Initiative, also based at the University of Chicago. TMW researches programs that maximize the critical language development period of birth to 3 years old while helping to draw public attention to this critical phase of brain development.

Suskind discovered that children who appeared similar in every other respect would differ dramatically in how quickly they learned language after their hearing was restored. She discovered that the difference fell largely along socio-economic lines, and that the key difference was how much language the child was hearing at home.

Wednesday night was the worldwide premiere of unINDIAN at Fox Studios in Sydney. unINDIAN is an Australian-Indian romantic comedy starring Cochlear Global Hearing Ambassador and cricketer, Brett Lee. Lead actress, Tannishtha Chatterjee’s character works for Cochlear in the film and part of it was shot at the headquarter office in Sydney with bilateral recipient, Jane Goodfellow as an extra (she plays the receptionist).

The premiere was a funfilled event – lots of Bollywood dancing and the crowd certainly frocked up for the occasion.

The movie is officially released to the general public on October 15. There is still no word on when the movie will appear in other countries.

We recently saw this on a Baha Attract support group on Facebook and thought it was pretty funny. We love that a lot of Baha users like to adorn their sound processors with fun colours and stickers every once in a while.

According to Annelen Hedin, Audiology Group Manager at Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions, decorating your Baha sound processor is totally fine. Just keep these things in mind:

Be careful not to let the tape or sticker cover the microphone

Don’t use strong glue that can harm the surface of your sound processor

Make sure the battery door can be closed properly, otherwise it might cause feedback

How are you decorating your or your child’s Baha sound processors for the holidays? Please share with us, either on this blog, on Twitter or Facebook!

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October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the US. This month is all about celebrating people with Down syndrome and making others aware of their abilities and accomplishments. It’s not about celebrating disabilities, it’s about celebrating abilities.

Many children born with Down Syndrome also have hearing loss. But did you know that they can benefit from a Baha System?

Since Down Syndrome children’s ear canals are typically very narrow, in-the-ear hearing aids can be difficult to wear. Since the Baha solution doesn’t block the ear canal, discharges in the ears are also able to dry properly which reduces the risk of getting ear infections. There’s also no need for an ear mould which can get lost, or cause irritation and soreness to small ears.

Question: Hi, I have two BP100 sound processors and recently started a new job where we use online phones at my work, i.e. a headset is plugged into my laptop for phone calls. The highest volume setting on the standard headset (& computer) is too soft & also difficult to position against my Baha (without feedback) – are there any suggestions on alternative types of headsets or telephone solutions?

Secondly, the plastic membrane surrounding the coupling (that attaches to the abutment) on the processor has started to peel back, exposing the gaps in the processor – do I need to get this repaired?

Thanks // Daniel

Answer: Dear Daniel,

It is always difficult to answer questions on specific phone installations, however, I think that you may consider using the audio cable to connect your BP100 Sound Processors directly to the computer. This will allow you to bypass the headset entirely. The cable connects from the 3.5 audio jack on the computer to the Europlug in your BP100. If you want to connect bilaterally you can use a 3.5 splitter in the computer and then connect one audio cable to each sound processor. The audio cable is available in two lengths (0.7 and 5 metres).

Regarding the membrane that has started to peel off from your sound processor this should be sent for repair as it will increase the risk of feedback if there is a gap between the snap coupling and the base of the sound processor. Please contact Cochlear Customer Service in your country or your local health care professional for help.

The Baha® Blog is written by the team at Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB (Cochlear)|Opinions expressed in the Twitter feed and in any related comments reflect the personal opinions of the original authors, not those of Cochlear|The Baha® Blog and Cochlear are not responsible for the content or opinions expressed in external sites |In the United States and Canada, the placement of a bone-anchored implant is contraindicated in children below the age of 5|Please note that not all products mentioned are available in all countries